Atomizer



Feb. 16, 1943. D. I... SPENDER ATOMIZER Filed March 20, 1941 Fig.2.

INVENTOR.

DONALD L. SPENDER.

M P' f- ATTORNEX Patented Feb. 16, 1943 ATOMIZER Donald L. Spender,Waterbury, Conn., assignor to Scovill Manufacturing Company, Waterbury,Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application March 20, 1941, SerialNo. 384,311

9 Claims.

This invention relates to atomizers and particularly to atomizer headsadapted to be ap plied to containers to discharge the contents thereofin a diflused or atomized form.

Although atomizers embodying the present invention may take variousforms and may be constructed with difierent arrangements of parts thepreferred embodiment thereof includes a bulb and a retaining member forsecuring the bulb and remaining elements to a container. The retainingmember is provided with a wall portion having a discharge aperturetherein and extends about members which have spaced portions defining aliquid receiving chamber with sensitive means therein to control theflow of liquid from the container to the discharge aperture. Thesemembers are also formed to define liquid and air channels which insureproper distribution and mixing of the air and liquid for immediate andeffective atomizing of the liquid when the bulb is depressed.

The principal object of the invention is to pro- Vide an improved andsimplified construction for atomizer heads that can be operated with onehand, and one which is formed of a limited number of elements that maybe produced economically and assembled easily.

Another object of the invention is to provide an atomizer with acompressible device and atomizing elements which are sensitive to theaction of 4 the compressible device so that the liquid will be readilydischarged without depressing the device completely or several times toproduce the desired atomizing efi'ect.

These and other objects and features of the invention will appear fromthe following description thereof in which reference is made to thefigures of the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a preferred embodiment of myinvention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the construction illustrated in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the construction illustrated in Fig. 1showing the various elements of the combination in position forassembly.

In the form of the invention chosen as illustrative of the invention andshown in the figures of the drawing the atomizer head is applied to acontainer 2 such as a bottle. The head is held in place by a retainingmember 4 comprising a shell formed with a portion 5 of suitable diameterfor engaging the neck of the bottle or other container and an atomizingportion 6, which is preferably larger in diameter than the portion 5 andformed with a discharge aperture 8 adapted to be sealed by a member I!)of suitable design such as that illustrated and described in thecopending application of Le Roy P. Root Serial No. 360,789 filed October11, 1940.

The atomizing portion 6 of the retaining member 4 extends about a washerl2 which bears against the upper surface of the neck of the containerand seals the space between the container and retaining member and formsan annular seat for a valve holding cup I 4. The cup I 4 has a centralrecessed portion l6 which cooperates with an upper bulb supporting discl8 to substantially close the recess and thereby form a liquid receivingchamber 20. The center of the recessed portion l6 of the cup 14 isformed with an opening 22 the inner edge of which is turned downward toform a neck 24 about which a rubber connector 26 fits for receiving andsecuring a glass tube 28 to the cup. The central opening 22 in the cupI4 thus cooperates With the glass tube 28 to provide a conduit for thepassage of liquid from the container to the liquid receiving chamber 20in the recessed portion of the cup.

Within the chamber 20 is located valve means,

shown as a small freely movable valve' member 30 of such thickness as toprovide for a restricted movement between the upper surface of the valve30 and the lower surface of the bulb supporting disc [8. The disc I8 ispreferably flat and formed with an opening 32 therethrough above and adjacent the valve member 30 so that the flow of air through the opening32 will serve to raise or lower the valve and thereby control thepassage of liquid into and out of the liquid receiving chamber 20.

Above the disc I8 is a compressible device, of any suitable type forforcing air through the opening 32 and for atomizing liquid dischargedfrom the liquid receiving chamber 20. The compressible device shown isin the form of a hollow hemispherical bulb 34 formed of rubber or othercompressible material and provided with an annular bead 36 which bearsagainst the upper surface of the disc I8. The air space within the bulb34 communicates with the valve chamber 29 through the opening 32 in thedisc, and the relative positions of the valve member and opening aresuch that even a slight expansion of the bulb will cause the valve to beraised to close the opening 32, whereas the valve member is forceddownward into position to close the central opening 22 in the cup l4when the bulb 34 is compressed. In this way air flowing through opening32 into and out of the bulb 34 is used to actuate the valve member inboth directions and since the valve member is of a free floating type itis very sensitive in action and readily responsive to the movement ofthe bulb.

The valve supporting cup I4 is provided at its edge with an upwardlyextending annular flange 38 having an atomizing aperture 40 which is inalignment with the discharge aperture 8 in the wall of atomizing portion6 of the retaining member 4. The disc l8 and bead 35 on the bulb 34 fitclosely within the flange 38 on the cup, but this disc is preferableflattened or cut away at 42 near the aperture 48 to provide a smallmixing chamber 43 to which the liquid and air are supplied. The disc,cup, and the bead 36 on the bulb cooperate to form liquid and airchannels, and for this purpose the opposite faces of the disc l8 may beformed with grooves 44 and 46. The lower groove 44 provides a liquidchannel and extends from the flattened section 42 of the disc to thecentral opening l8 thereof and serves to connect the liquid chamber 20to the mixin chamber 43, whereas the upper groove 46 serves as an airchannel and extends from the interior of the bulb 34 to a point in themixing chamber 43 adjacent the end of the liquid channel 44. Air andliquid are thus supplied to adjacent points in the mixing chamber 4.3and close to the atomizing aperture 40 in the flange 38. of the cup soas to be mixed and discharged from the atomizing head in a, finedifiused form or mist.

In order to vent the container or bottle 2 and prevent the formation ofa vacuum therein when liquid is withdrawn from the container, the lowersurface of the cup I4 is formed with a groove 48 which extends from theinterior of the container to the edge of thecup 14. at a point adjacentthe discharge aperture 8 in. the retaining member 4. Air can then passfrom the discharge. aperture 8 in the retaining member to, the groove 48and thence to the interior of the container to admit air thereto. andprevent the creation of avacuum.

In order that theparts described may be easily and quickly assembled andaccurately positioned with respect to each other the retaining member 4is formed with an inwardly extending projection 50 and the cup 14 isformed with a complementary indentation 52. The disc [8 in turn isformed with arecess 53 which cooperates With the inwardly extendingportionv of the indentation 52 on the inner surface of the cup 14. It istherefore very easy to assemble the elements by first positioning thewasher l2 upon the shoulder 1' between the portions and 6 of theretaining member 4 and then dropping the cup l4 upon the washer l2,inserting the valve member 30 and dropping in the upper bulb-supportingdisc with all of the parts properly oriented. Thereafter the bulb isplaced on the disc andthe upper portion of the retaining member isturned inward.

over the bead 36 on the bulb to clampthe parts together. Similarly, inapplying the assembled head to a container, the rubber connector 26 isslipped over the neck 24 about the central opening on the cup I 4 andthe glass tube28 is inserted intov the connector. The glass tube carriedby the assembled head. is then inserted into the bottle 2 and thelowerportion 5 of the retaining member 4 is affixed to the bottle. Ifthreadedtheretaining. member is. simply. screwed, onto the neck of thebottle but it may be secured in place in any suitable way, as'by turningthe lower extremity 54 inward about the collar on the neck of the bottleso, that the head is held firmly in, {place thereon. The sealing memberIt is then applied to the head to seal the aperture 8 in the retainingmember and prevent leakage or evaporation of liquid during shipment orstorage of the container. While the head is here shown as beingpermanently secured to the bottle neck 2, it is also within the purviewof this invention to have the head threadedly or otherwise detachablysecured to the container.

In operation the bulb 34 is depressed forcing air out through the uppergroove 45 and also through the opening 32 in disc 18 and through theliquid chamber 20 and groove 44 to the apertures 4i] and 8 in the cupand retaining member respectively. Thereafter on expansion of the bulb34 the air entering the bulb and flowing upward through the opening 32in the disc raises the valve 38 to close opening 32 and allow liquid tobe drawn through the glass tube 28 into the liquid receiving chamber. Acertain amount of liquid may also be drawn through the liquid channel.44 toward the mixing chamber 43 and air channe1 45 as thebulb 34continues to expand since the channels 44- and 46 form in efiect acontinuous channel extending from the bulb to the liquid chamber throughthe mixing chamber.

With the liquid chamber charged. with liquid initial depression of thebulb 34 first forces air through the disc opening causing the valvemember 30 to .be forced downward. by air from the bulb. closing theopening 22 in the cup, so that liquid cannot return to the container,and uncovering the opening 32. Continued depression of the bulb 3.4creates a pressure that forces both air and liquid from the chamber 20:out through the liquid channel 44. Additional air forced Out through airchannel 48, meets themixed air and liquid coming from the groove 44 inthe mixing chamber 43 and co-mingles therewith, after which the mixtureis ejected from the aperture 49 and discharged through the aperture 8 inthe form of a fine mist.

The operation of the device is therefore very simple and effective andthe movements of the valve member 34 are controlled so as to insurequick sensitive operation thereof upon even a slight movement of thebulb and without repeateddepressions thereof after the liquid has oncebeen drawn into the liquid receiving chamber.

The whole assembly of elements described is sistent in operation and yetsensitive to even slight movements of the bulb.

While the construction illustrated and described is preferred it will beapparent that the various elements of the combination are each capableof changes in form and construction and the arrangement and manner ofoperation of the parts may be varied considerably without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention. It shouldtherefore be understoodthat the present invention contemplates such changes and is not limitedto the particular embodiment thereof illustrated in the drawingand'described above;

I claim:

l. An atomizer adapted to be applied to a contamer comprising ahemispherical compressible bulb, a disc closing the open side of. saidbulb and provided with an opening therethrough, a member having anopening therethrough for communication with the interior of the con-Moreover each of the parts is tainer to which the head is applied andformed with a recess surrounding said opening and cooperating with saiddisc to form a liquid receiving chamber, a valve member housed withinsaid recess between the openings in said disc and member and movable toalternative positions to close the openings in said disc and member,means forming a liquid channel communicating with said recess andextending to the edge of said disc, means forming an air channelextending from the interior of said bulb to a point at the edge of saiddisc adjacent the end of said liquid channel, and means extending aboutsaid disc and member formed with an opening therein adjacent the ends ofsaid channels for the discharge of air and liquid from the atomizer 2.In an atomizer head adapted to be applied to a container, a compressibledevice having an air space therein; means within said head defining aliquid receiving chamber and provided with an opening through whichliquid may flow to said chamber from the container to which the head isapplied, and also provided with an opening communicating with said airspace, a valve member located in said chamber and between said openingsand bodily movable into position to close either of said openings inresponse to the passage of air through the opening communicating withsaid air space, and means having an atomizing aperture thereincommunicating with said chamber and air space for the discharge of airand liquid from said head.

3. An atomizer head adapted to be applied to a container comprising acompressible bulb, two members having portions thereof which aresubstantially parallel and spaced apart to provide a fiat, generallycircular liquid receiving chamber therebetween, one of said membershaving an opening therein communicating with said bulb and the otherhaving an opening therein communicating with the container, means havingan atomizing aperture therein, means defining passages leading from saidbulb and chamber to said atomizing aperture, and a valve of lessdiameter than said chamber and located in said chamber between saidopenings and said valve member being bodily movable within said chamberand in response to the pressure of air in said bulb to control the flowof liquid to said chamber through the opening communicating with saidcontainer.

4. An atomizing head comprising a retaining member engageable with acontainer and formed with a discharge opening therein, a cup memberwithin the retaining member having an opening therein communicating withthe container and formed with a depression about the opening, said cupmember also being formed with an atomizing aperture located adjacent thedischarge opening in the retaining member, a disc located in said cupmember and substantially closing said depression and cooperating withthe cup member to form a liquid receiving chamber, said disc having agroove in the lower surface thereof extending from the liquid receivingchamber to a point adjacent the aperture in the cup member, a valvemember located in said chamber and bodily movable to close said openingin said cup member, and a compressible bulb communicating with thegroove in said disc at a point near the aperture in the cup member tosupply air for atomizing said liquid when the bulb is compressed and todraw liquid into said recess when the bulb is expanded.

5. In an atomizing head adapted to be applied to a container and havinga retaining member with a discharge port therein, a cup shaped memberencircled by the retaining member and formed with an aperture in theside wall thereof registering with said discharge port, said cup shapedmember having a centrally located opening communicating with thecontainer to which the head is applied and provided with a recesssurrounding said opening, a disc located Within the cup shaped memberand substantially closing said recess to form a liquid receivingchamber, a compressible bulb extending over the disc and having an airspace therein, said disc having a passage therethrough. extending fromsaid air space to said chamber, a valve member located within saidchamber and bodily movable in response to change in air pressure in saidair space to close either the opening in said cup shaped member or thepassage leading from the air space to said chamber and means formingchannels extending from said air space and from the liquid receivingchamber to the aperture in the wall portion of the cup shaped member.

6. In an atomizing head adapted to be applied to a container, aretaining member having a discharge port therein, a cup shaped memberencircled by the retaining member and having an aperture in the wallportion thereof registering with the discharge port in the retainingmember, a disc located within the cup shaped member and having the lowersurface thereof cooperating with the cup shaped member to form a liquidreceiving chamber, said disc having a passage therethrough communicatingwith said chamber and having that portion of the edge thereof which isadjacent said aperture spaced from the inner surface of the wall portionof the cup shaped member to form a mixing chamber, and a compressiblebulb having an air space therein extending over the upper face of saiddisc, said disc having channels formed in the upper and lower surfacesthereof extending from the air space in said bulb and from the liquidreceiving chamber to said mixing chamber.

7. In an atomizing head adapted to be applied to a container and havinga retaining member with a discharge port therein, a cup shaped memberencircled by the retaining member and formed with an aperture in theside wall thereof registering with said discharge port, said cup shapedmember having a centrally located opening communicating with thecontainer to which the head is applied and provided with a recesssurrounding said opening, a disc located within the cup shaped memberand substantially closing said recess to form a liquid receivingchamber, a compressible bulb extending over the disc and having an airspace therein, said disc having a passage therethrough extending fromsaid air space to said chamber, a valve member located within saidchamber and bodily movable in response to change in air pressure in saidair space to close either the opening in said cup shaped member or thepassage leading from the air space to said chamber, said disc havingradially extending grooves formed in the upper and lower surfacesthereof and leading from said air space and from said liquid receivingchamber to said aperture.

8. In an atomizing head adapted to be applied to a container and havinga retaining member with a discharge port therein, a cup shaped memberencircled by the retaining member and formed with an aperture in theside wall thereof registering with said discharge port, saidi cup shapedmember having a centrally located opening communicating with thecontainer to which the head is applied and provided with a recesssurrounding said opening, a disc located Within the cup shaped memberand substantially closing said recess to form a liquid receivingchamher, a compressible bulb extending over the disc and having anairspace therein, said disc having a passage therethrougn extending fromsaid air space to said chamber, a valve member located within saidchamber and bodily movable in response to change in air pressure in saidair space to close either the opening in said cup shaped member or thepassage leading from the air space to said chamber, said disc having theportion of its edge adjacent said aperture spaced from the wall of'thecup shaped member to form a mixing chamber, and having radiallyextending grooves formed in the upper and lower surfaces thereof andleading from said air space and from said liquid receiving chamber tosaid mixing chamber.

9. In an atomizing head adapted to be applied to a container and havinga retaining member with a discharge port therein, a cup shaped memberencircled by the retaining member and formed with an aperture in theside Wall thereof registering with said discharge port, said cup shapedmember having a centrally located opening communicating with thecontainer to which the head is applied and provided with a recesssurrounding said opening, a disc located within the cup shaped memberand substantially closing said recess to form a liquid receivingchamber, a compressible bulb extending over the disc and having an airspace therein, said disc having a passage therethrough extending fromsaid air space to said chamber, a valve member located within saidchamber and bodily movable in response to change in air pressure in saidair space to close either the opening in said cup shaped member or thepassage leading from the air space to said chamber, said disc having the7 portion of its edge adjacent said aperture spaced from the Wall of thecup shaped member to form a mixing chamber, and having radiallyextending grooves formed in the upper and lower surfaces thereof andleading from said air space and from said liquid receiving chamber tosaid mixing chamber.

DONALD L. SPENDER.

